Analysis of the Lightning-Rangers series | Can the giant be dethroned?

In the right corner, a perfectly finished team, in search of its third consecutive Stanley Cup, a first since the New York Islanders in 1982. In the left corner, the little brother, already formidable after four years of reconstruction-resetting, eager to shake the eldest.

Mathias Brunet
The Press

Will the New York Rangers and their young defense have what it takes to defeat the mighty Tampa Bay Lightning? The Rangers dismissed in extremis in the first two rounds two clubs deprived of their best goalkeeper, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes.

This time they face the best goalkeeper on the planet, Andrei Vasilevskiy, according to their own goalkeeper, Igor Shesterkin, arguably the main rival to the throne of his fellow Russian Lightning.

The Lightning have edged out the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games and the No. 1 overall Florida Panthers in just four games. After being trailed two games to one by the Leafs in the first round, they have won seven of their last eight meetings.

Tampa Bay and New York lack the offensive power of Edmonton or Colorado, but are among the strong playoff teams in goals scored per game. The Rangers took full advantage of their power play chances in the opening rounds with a 32% efficiency, a goal on almost all three occasions, compared to 22% for the Lightning.

The Rangers offense is led by forward Mika Zibanejad and defender Adam Fox, the Lightning by Nikita Kucherov and defender Victor Hedman. Superstars Steven Stamkos and Artemi Panarin are yet to produce to their full potential.

Rangers have a surprising group of defenders given their youth and inexperience. Fox is obviously the offensive leader, but Jacob Trouba stands out for his robustness. He injured several Hurricanes players in the previous round.

We must nevertheless give the advantage to the Lightning in this chapter with a top 4 consisting of Hedman, Ryan McDonagh, Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak. They are used in abundance while Zach Bogosian and Cal Foote are satisfied with a dozen minutes each.

Players to follow

Tampa Bay : Nikita Kucherov has… 81 points in his last 59 playoff games.

New York : Mika Zibanejad had no goals and four assists in his first five playoff games, but he had 15 points, including 7 goals, in the next 9 games…

Players under the radar

Tampa Bay : At 37, Corey Perry is still worth his weight in gold. He has five goals in eleven games and continues to disturb opposing goalkeepers.

New York : He doesn’t have an under-the-radar profile, but Alexis Lafrenière is starting to emerge in his third-line playoffs with center Filip Chytil. He got 7 points in the first 14 games, he’s committed like never before.